Simple Skin Routine?? Newbie needs help!
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Tue Apr 27, 2010 7:42 am

I did post this in another thread--but I thought it would get more traffic in it's own post. I've been lurking for several weeks now--found myself addicted to this sight. It's so hard to take in so much info. I feel like I've found the fountain of youth here.

I'm 51 and have become skin obsessed in recent weeks. Would love to start a new routine, but I want something simple.

I've noticed that trying to turn back the hands of time--takes quite a bit of time!

I've started using C serum and retinol and I do see a difference. I even believe this dry brushing thing is even working.

When I look at some of the regimens that some are doing--they are using quite a few products. I can't really afford to spend so much $$ on products. I would like a simple one--what products are absolutes--Copper Peptides, Vitamin C, Retinol, etc?

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:29 pm

lhayes1976 wrote:

I did post this in another thread--but I thought it would get more traffic in it's own post. I've been lurking for several weeks now--found myself addicted to this sight. It's so hard to take in so much info. I feel like I've found the fountain of youth here.

I'm 51 and have become skin obsessed in recent weeks. Would love to start a new routine, but I want something simple.

I've noticed that trying to turn back the hands of time--takes quite a bit of time!

I've started using C serum and retinol and I do see a difference. I even believe this dry brushing thing is even working.

When I look at some of the regimens that some are doing--they are using quite a few products. I can't really afford to spend so much $$ on products. I would like a simple one--what products are absolutes--Copper Peptides, Vitamin C, Retinol, etc?

Hi lhayes, you'll find a lot of differing opinions on what works on this forum so you just have to do your research, do some experimenting and decide what works best for you. This is what I think is important:

Morning
-Cleanse
-Vitamin C (I love Skinceuticals CE Ferulic)
-Maybe another antioxidant serum
-A Physical Sunscreen (I love Dermaquest Zinclear SPF 30 but have just been informed that Burnout Eco-Sensitive sunscreen has almost identical ingredients. Either one of these sunscreens contains antioxidants so just cleansing, using Vitmain C (a product that contains l-ascorbic acid) and one of these sunscreens could be all you need during the day.

Evening
-Cleanse
-Retin A

You can buy Retin A online (inhousepharmacy.com, medsmex.com are a couple of places). If you do decide to try Retin A please do a search on this forum and do your research about it - it's great but people have different reactions to it.

HTHs!

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:00 pm

Depending where you are can you go see an actual dermatologist at a resonable cost?
I know where I live the actual doctor visit is free and they can write prescriptions.

I've gone to the derm in canada for other stuff and for me I found the doctor was "useless".
(actually went for severe skin allergies 2 years ago..was made to wait 1+ year for apt..kind of a waste of time).

By the time I saw the doctor I had figured out my own solutions that were better for me (and too costly as well,lol).

I know for smoothing Vitamin C works well.
I had one company tell me only 10% vitamin C works the best or is the lowest % to use.

Not sure how true that really is but someone from Neotrata is insistent on that.

I relly like Neostrata products they work well for me!

They also have glycolic products.

That Ferulic product everyone is talking about is great too.
I tried a sample of it, but it is out of my budget for now.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:35 pm

IMHO simple skin care routine would have...

- AHA
- Tretinoin
- Sunscreen

as "must haves"

These are the 2 things that there's most evidence that they will make your skin look nice, and help collagen production.

If you want you can add a Vitamin C serum (there's quite a bit of evidence on this). With Vitamin C serum the only thing is that it tends to oxidize pretty fast so if you are up for it, I would make my own.

I would do something like this:

Morning

- Cleaning just with water and maybe a light
cleaning cloth

- Use a light AHA (I would also consider something with polyhydroxiacids and bionic acids)

- Sunscreen

Night

- Clean with a mild cleanser (pH compatible with acid mantle)
- Retin A

Once in a while I would do a stronger AHA

Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:31 pm

I have some Vitamin C powder that I bought at Whole Foods. Is this the same as what I would need to make my own C serum? As for retinol, I've just been using something that I bought at the drugstore. It's a generic of Roc Deep Wrinkle Night Cream--not really sure of the ingredients. I bought it because one of the ingedients, was copper gluconate(spelling?). With all this talk of copper peptides, I thought I would give it a chance.

Honestly, I do believe I am seeing a difference with this drugstore serum. But since, I am new to all this, I'm wondering if anything would have helped my neglected facial skin.

I have a blepharoplasty scheduled in June. I'm trying to get the rest of the face in shape to go with (hopefully) my new younger looking eyes.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:33 pm

For the weekday:

AM:
1) Rinse, clean.
2) Vitamin C Serum ( I like skinceuticals)
3) Sunscreen (at least spf 45)

PM:
1) Rinse, clean
2) Moisturize (cellex-c Hydra 5 b-complex)

The weekend I do the same, except I exfoliate at night.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:40 pm

Also include some good oils to your routine. Very effective and will not break the bank. I like avocado.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:01 pm

lhayes1976 wrote:

I have some Vitamin C powder that I bought at Whole Foods.Is this the same as what I would need to make my own C serum?

Mmm.. Usually the Vitamin C powder to drink/eat/ingest has fillers (i.e. it's not pure Ascorbic acid).
I don't know the specifics about the Vitamin C powder you bought but I would make sure that it doesn't have any fillers

lhayes1976 wrote:

As for retinol, I've just been using something that I bought at the drugstore. It's a generic of Roc Deep Wrinkle Night Cream--not really sure of the ingredients. I bought it because one of the ingedients, was copper gluconate(spelling?). With all this talk of copper peptides, I thought I would give it a chance.

Retinol is different from Retin-A. Retin-A is tretinoin (retinoic acid). The thing is that Retinol needs to be converted to Retinoic acid to have the effect. Some people convert it well, some people don't, so it doesn't have a "predictable" effect. Also retinol gets oxidized on the skin surface. This is why it's usually better to buy Retin-A or Renova or something like that that has tretinoin.

lhayes1976 wrote:

Honestly, I do believe I am seeing a difference with this drugstore serum. But since, I am new to all this, I'm wondering if anything would have helped my neglected facial skin.

If you've been using the serum for a few weeks chances are that the improvement you are seeing is due to the "moisturizing" effect of whatever you are using than a long lasting effect on collagen.

A lot of the times, using a good emulsion will make the skin retain "water". So our skin will look more "plump" and so our wrinkles will show less and our uneven tone will also show less. Also if whatever you are wearing has a light exfoliating effect, it will make your skin smoother and so also look better.

The plumping effect is good but we also look for a more "long-lasting" effect. So we need something that can increase collagen and elastin production. That's were tretinoin and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) come in handy Smile

Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:30 pm

My Vitamin C powder has no fillers-- listed as 100% pure. Where is the best place to buy the Retin-A? I am planning a visit to the dermatologist for my yearly checkup. Can I just ask for a prescription?

I really have no wrinkles, but my skin is sagging with large pores. Like I said earlier, I am skin obsessed. I look at everyone's skin, and it's so amazing how differently everyone's skin ages.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:35 pm

hi there, i have a really simple routine.

morning - cleanse and follow up with moisturizer with SPF 30.

evening - cleanse and apply HQ 2% gel for my age spots, follow with retin-a 0.05% cream. Touch up any areas prone to dry skin like under the eyes with oil (emu or avocado) but not too excessive just a light touch.

Done.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 6:55 pm

lhayes1976 wrote:

My Vitamin C powder has no fillers-- listed as 100% pure. Where is the best place to buy the Retin-A? I am planning a visit to the dermatologist for my yearly checkup. Can I just ask for a prescription?

I really have no wrinkles, but my skin is sagging with large pores. Like I said earlier, I am skin obsessed. I look at everyone's skin, and it's so amazing how differently everyone's skin ages.

I agree with the others on using Retin-A in p.m. You'll find it's much more effective than the drugstore retinol for anti-aging and refining pores.

You could ask your derm for a prescription at your next app't.

free skin care · Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:26 pm

lhayes1976 wrote:

My Vitamin C powder has no fillers-- listed as 100% pure. Where is the best place to buy the Retin-A? I am planning a visit to the dermatologist for my yearly checkup. Can I just ask for a prescription?

I really have no wrinkles, but my skin is sagging with large pores. Like I said earlier, I am skin obsessed. I look at everyone's skin, and it's so amazing how differently everyone's skin ages.

You can ask your doctor for a prescription but don't be suprised if your insurance doesn't pay for it. It may be less expensive for you to buy it online. inhousepharmacy.com and medsmex.com are two online etailers that many EDS forum members use. Just do a search on the forum for those two places for more information.

free skin care · Wed Apr 28, 2010 1:28 am

For vitamin C cream or serum I usually use the Neostrata vitamin C capsules.

the cream is 10% vitamin C and it is in a capsule you open when you use it so it keeps well!

I'vehad great results with that and it makes my skin very smooth.
I only use it 3x a week at night as a night cream as I find it drying still..you are supposedto put cream on top,but usually I do not.

Not sure if that product is sold in the US,but most of the pharmacy in Canada sell it on the shelf for around $35 for 30 capsules.

you can probably order that online somewhere though.

I know in the US Exuviance is made by Neostrata and called that there.
I have never seen Exuviance in a US pharmacy and I go quite often.

Eds seems to sell Exuviance though Smile

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